Radiation Therapy News and Research

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Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, or irradiation) is the use of a certain type of energy (called ionizing radiation) to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the “target tissue”) by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow and divide. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and function properly. The goal of radiation therapy is to damage as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby healthy tissue.

Study evaluates reliability of scale to assess toxicity for patients receiving radiation therapy

The North Shore-LIJ Health System Department of Radiation Medicine presented a novel study to evaluate the reliability of different systems used by caregivers to assess toxicity for patients receiving radiation therapy. The study will be presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology in Atlanta, GA.

26 Sep 2013

Results of NovaRx's Lucanix Phase III trial in non-small cell lung cancer to be presented at ESMO 2013

NovaRx Corporation announced that the detailed results from the randomized Phase III trial of Lucanix (belagenpumatucel-L) post-frontline maintenance therapy in non-small cell lung cancer will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2013 annual meeting in Amsterdam.

26 Sep 2013

Wayne State aims to develop advanced education program for radiation oncology

The number of patients receiving radiation therapy in the United States for cancer treatment is expected to increase by more than 20 percent over the next decade to almost 600,000 per year. But radiation research over the past decade has decreased substantially, making it more difficult to provide oncologists with the best training in the latest techniques, particularly the integration of medical physics, which is now a required aspect in the clinical practice of radiotherapy.

26 Sep 2013

Research finds no increased risks of mortality for early-stage breast cancer patients receiving XRT

Early-stage breast cancer patients who receive external beam therapy (XRT) are not at higher risk for serious long-term side effects in the chest area, including increase in deaths from cardiac disease and secondary malignancies, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 55th Annual Meeting.

25 Sep 2013

Fat grafting shows promise as effective treatment for scars

Millions of people with scars suffer from pain, discomfort, and inability to perform regular activities. Some may have to revert to addicting pain medicine to get rid of their ailments.

25 Sep 2013

Targeted radiation therapy may offer safe treatment option for elderly pancreatic cancer patients

A highly targeted cancer radiation therapy may offer a safe and effective treatment option for elderly pancreatic cancer patients unable to undergo surgery or combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

25 Sep 2013

Proton therapy reduces treatment side effects among head and neck cancer patients

The precise targeting and limited dosing of radiation via proton therapy is proving to be an advantage in ongoing efforts to reduce treatment side effects among head and neck cancer patients, according to a new study of pediatric patients from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

25 Sep 2013

Researchers blame HPV for increased number of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer

The human papillomavirus (HPV) may be to blame for the alarming increase of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer, according to researchers from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

25 Sep 2013

miR-31 in primary tumor cells predicts lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients

Determining whether a patient's lung cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes is critical for identifying the most effective therapy, but it usually requires surgery. A new study suggests, however, that measuring levels of a particular molecule in a sample of tumor tissue might accurately answer the question.

25 Sep 2013

Sulfasalazine drug does not reduce diarrhea for patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy: Study

Sulfasalazine, a drug commonly prescribed to reduce diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, does not reduce diarrhea in patients receiving radiation therapy for cancers in the pelvic area a Mayo Clinic-led study has found.

24 Sep 2013

Stereotactic radiosurgery improves survival in adult brain cancer patients under 50

When treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, that is not combined with whole brain radiotherapy, adult brain cancer patients who were 50 years old and younger were found to have improved survival, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Guideline focuses on radiation therapy to be highlighted during ASTRO's 55th Annual Meeting

The American Society for Radiation Oncology will highlight the recently published Adjuvant and Salvage Radiotherapy After Prostatectomy: ASTRO/AUA Guideline during ASTRO's 55th Annual Meeting, September 22-25, 2013, in Atlanta.

24 Sep 2013

Long-term hormonal therapy has no additional benefits in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer

A secondary analysis of the historic RTOG 9202 prostate cancer trial examined results of men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer who had received long-term hormonal therapy after radiation therapy, and concluded that there were no additional benefits when compared to short-term hormonal therapy, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Cisplatin plus radiotherapy and HDRB proves beneficial in stage IIIB cervical cancer

Adding the chemotherapy drug cisplatin to a treatment plan of radiation therapy (RT) and high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB) for stage IIIB cervical cancer is beneficial, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Depression in cancer patients who receive RT can be identified by 2-item questionnaire

Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) who are potentially suffering from depression can be effectively identified by a two-item questionnaire, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Lung cancer patients who received IMRT report less decline in their QOL

An analysis of quality of life (QOL) data of stage III lung cancer patients who received higher doses of radiation therapy (with chemotherapy) shows a significantly lower quality of life at 3 months after treatment compared to patients who received a standard dose of radiation (with chemotherapy), according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Proton radiotherapy proves to be cost-effective in treating pediatric brain tumors

Proton therapy, an external beam radiotherapy in which protons deliver precise radiation doses to a tumor and spare healthy organs and tissues, is cost-effective in treating medulloblastomas, fast-growing brain tumors that mainly affect children, when compared to standard photon radiation therapy, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Protecting stem cells around hippocampus in brain reduces rate of memory loss in cancer patients

Protecting the stem cells that reside in and around the hippocampus - a C-shaped area in the temporal lobe on both sides of the brain associated with the ability to form and store memories - substantially reduces the rate of cancer patients' memory loss during whole-brain radiotherapy without a significant risk of recurrence in that area of the brain, a new study shows.

24 Sep 2013

TAS therapy prior to radiation therapy yields favorable outcomes in PCa patients

A shorter course of androgen suppression therapy prior to radiation therapy, when compared to a longer course of androgen suppression therapy, yields favorable outcomes and fewer adverse effects for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Two-question screening test may reveal depression in cancer patients

Cancer patients can be accurately screened for major depression with a simple two-question survey, according to a study presented Sept. 23 at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Study evaluates reliability of scale to assess toxicity for patients receiving radiation therapy

Results of NovaRx's Lucanix Phase III trial in non-small cell lung cancer to be presented at ESMO 2013

Wayne State aims to develop advanced education program for radiation oncology

Research finds no increased risks of mortality for early-stage breast cancer patients receiving XRT

Fat grafting shows promise as effective treatment for scars

Targeted radiation therapy may offer safe treatment option for elderly pancreatic cancer patients

Proton therapy reduces treatment side effects among head and neck cancer patients

Researchers blame HPV for increased number of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer

miR-31 in primary tumor cells predicts lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients

Sulfasalazine drug does not reduce diarrhea for patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy: Study

Stereotactic radiosurgery improves survival in adult brain cancer patients under 50

Guideline focuses on radiation therapy to be highlighted during ASTRO's 55th Annual Meeting

Long-term hormonal therapy has no additional benefits in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Cisplatin plus radiotherapy and HDRB proves beneficial in stage IIIB cervical cancer

Depression in cancer patients who receive RT can be identified by 2-item questionnaire

Lung cancer patients who received IMRT report less decline in their QOL

Proton radiotherapy proves to be cost-effective in treating pediatric brain tumors

Protecting stem cells around hippocampus in brain reduces rate of memory loss in cancer patients

TAS therapy prior to radiation therapy yields favorable outcomes in PCa patients

Two-question screening test may reveal depression in cancer patients

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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